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American Standard VersionProverbs Chapter 8 1 Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice? 2 On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth; 3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud: 4 Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it. 12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion. 13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might. 15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries. 22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, 29 When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; 30 Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him, 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men. 32 Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death. Click a link to see an entire chapter       Articles that contain references to Proverbs 86 results found for Proverbs 8: Show Proverbs 8 in other versions: ASV BBE DBY GFR KJV WEB YLT ESV | Jamison Bible CommentaryProverbs Chapter 8 1 Pr 8:1-36. Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels. Her relation to the divine plans and acts is introduced, as in Pr 3:19, 20, though more fully, to commend her desirableness for men, and the whole is closed by an assurance that those finding her find God's favor, and those neglecting ruin themselves. Many regard the passage as a description of the Son of God by the title, Wisdom, which the older Jews used (and by which He is called in Lu 11:49), as Joh 1:1, c., describes Him by that of Logos, the Word. But the passage may be taken as a personification of wisdom: for, (1) Though described as with God, wisdom is not asserted to be God. (2) The use of personal attributes is equally consistent with a personification, as with the description of a real person. (3) The personal pronouns used accord with the gender (feminine) of wisdom constantly, and are never changed to that of the person meant, as sometimes occurs in a corresponding use of spirit, which is neuter in Greek, but to which masculine pronouns are often applied (Joh 16:14), when the acts of the Holy Spirit are described. (4) Such a personification is agreeable to the style of this book (compare Pr 1:20; 3:16, 17; 4:8; 6:20-22; 9:1-4), whereas no prophetical or other allusions to the Saviour or the new dispensation are found among the quotations of this book in the New Testament, and unless this be such, none exist. (5) Nothing is lost as to the importance of this passage, which still remains a most ornate and also solemn and impressive teaching of inspiration on the value of wisdom. 1-4. The publicity and universality of the call contrast with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked (Pr 7:8, c.). 2 No commentary on this verse 3 No commentary on this verse 4 No commentary on this verse 5 5. wisdom literally, "subtilty" in a good sense, or, "prudence." fools as Pr 1:22. 6 6. excellent things or, "plain," "manifest." opening things upright words. 7 7. For truth literally, "My palate shall meditate," or (as Orientals did) "mutter," my thoughts expressed only to myself are truth. wickedness specially falsehood, as opposed to truth. 8 8. in righteousness or, "righteous" (Ps 9:8,11:7). froward literally, "twisted," or contradictory, that is, to truth. 9 9. plain understandeth easily seen by those who apply their minds. that find implying search. 10 10. not silver preferable to it, so last clause implies comparison. 11 11. (Compare Pr 3:14, 15). 12 12. prudence as in Pr 8:5. The connection of "wisdom" and "prudence" is that of the dictates of sound wisdom and its application. find inventions or, "devices," "discreet ways" (Pr 1:4). 13 13. For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it. froward mouth or, "speech" (Pr 2:12; 6:14). 14 14. It also gives the elements of good character in counsel. sound wisdom(Pr 2:7). I strength or, "As for me, understanding is strength to me," the source of power (Ec 9:16); good judgment gives more efficiency to actions; 15 15, 16. of which a wisely conducted government is an example. 17 17. early or, "diligently," which may include the usual sense of early in life. 18 18. durable riches righteousness Such are the "riches," enduring sources of happiness in moral possessions (compare Pr 3:16). 19 19. (Compare Pr 8:11; 3:16). 20 20, 21. The courses in which wisdom leads conduct to a true present prosperity (Pr 23:5). 22 22-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19). possessed or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence. in the beginning or simply, "beginning," in apposition with "me." before of old preceding the most ancient deeds. 23 23. I was set up ordained, or inaugurated (Ps 2:6). The other terms carry out the idea of the earliest antiquity, and illustrate it by the details of creation [Pr 8:24-29]. 24 24. brought forth(Compare Ps 90:2). abounding or, "laden with water." 25 25. settled that is, sunk in foundations. 26 26. fields or, "out places," "deserts," as opposite to (habitable) "world." highest part or, "sum," all particles together, 27 27. when he set depth marked out the circle, according to the popular idea of the earth, as circular, surrounded by depths on which the visible concave heavens rested. 28 28. established deep that is, so as to sustain the waters above and repress those below the firmament (Ge 1:7-11; Job 26:8). 29 29. commandment better, the shore, that is, of the sea. foundations figuratively denotes the solid structure (Job 38:4; Ps 24:2). 30 30, 31. one brought up an object of special and pleasing regard. The bestowal of wisdom on men is represented by its finding a delightful residence and pleasing God. 32 32-36. Such an attribute men are urged to seek. 34 34. watching waiting literally, "so as to watch"; wait, denoting a most sedulous attention. 35 35. (Compare Lu 13:23, 24). 36 36. sinneth me or better, "missing me," as opposed to "finding" [Pr 8:35]. love death act as if they did (compare Pr 17:9). Click a link to see an entire chapter Show Proverbs 8 in other versions: ASV BBE DBY GFR KJV WEB YLT ESV |